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Eczema Bulletin, Issue #022 - The Effects of Mold and Damp on Eczema
May 01, 2015

Eczema Bulletin, Issue #022 - The Effect of Mold and Damp on Eczema



Welcome to May's edition of the Eczema Bulletin e-zine, and thank you for subscribing.

This is the 22th edition of Eczema Bulletin. It will bring you articles and news about eczema, and also any updates to what-is-eczema.com. If you would like to add any suggestions for articles or news, or even add your own then I would love to hear from you

You can contact me here


This month's Eczema Bulletin includes

  • May's Featured Article – The Effect of Mold and Damp on Eczema
  • My favourite eczema news article
  • Tip of the Month
  • 5 Ways To.....get more Vitamin E for your skin



The Effect of Mold and Damp on Eczema


Mould and damp can cause irritation to the skin making it more itchy.

The spores from mould are what irritates eczema, and breathing them in can cause problems if you have a respiratory condition, like asthma.

Mould and damp can make certain allergies worse, and be an irritant to some conditions.

Mould can be caused by damp. Damp is caused by moisture.

If a room becomes damp and cold mould will start to grow. Bathrooms and kitchens are particularly prone to it.

Excess moisture in homes can be caused by

  • condensation on your windows
  • damage to the property which could mean that rain and water leaks in
  • rising damp in the basement

There are some ways to help combat damp and mould

  • make sure rooms are well aired
  • if your rooms are cold and damp, keep them heated
  • dry clothes outside or in the tumble drier, as wet clothes hanging around your home can cause damp conditions, especially on the radiator
  • remove small areas of mould by using a mould spray

If you have a large area of damp you may need to get a professional to deal with it.


Eczema News Article


A mum from Nottingham, England has started a business, Food Freedom, that was built from her own experiences of having a child with food allergies.

Nicky's Gray eight year old daughter, Kyla, had some skin conditions, including eczema. She was also suffering from bloating and headaches.

She started off by going to Kyla's school and talking to the head cook and the teachers. She also went into the classroom and talked to the children about allergies.

The business started from there. She realised that information about food allergies and the regulations regarding them was not fully known by people who work in the food industry.

So after gaining qualifications in the right fields she started educating, amongst others, restaurant owners, chefs and waiters. She spoke about the severity of allergies, how to reduce the risk of them occurring and the regulations surrounding them.

You can read the full story here



Tip Of The Month - Air Conditioning - Friend or Foe?


I decided to look into the effects of air conditioning not just on eczema, but on the skin generally, as I have started working in an air conditioned office. I've never worked in a small space with air conditioning blasting before.

It's great at keeping the room cool, but I'm getting convinced that my skin does not like it. So I decided to look into if air conditioning is a friend or a foe to our skin.

Lets start with the positives.

  • So it keeps the room cool, which as an eczema sufferer is great. The skin stays cool, so it doesn't get itchy and irritated
  • Its stops you getting sweaty, which means there's less chance of getting dehydrated, or your skin being irritated by the sweat
  • It can help to reduce the number of allergens, like pollen

Now the negatives.

  • It has a very drying effect on the skin. Air conditioning reduces the amount of moisture in the air
  • When you have been outside you may notice a drop in temperature when you enter a building with air conditioning. A extreme change in temperature can affect eczema
  • When it is on windows are left shut, so no fresh air is getting into the room

If you find air conditioning causes problems with your skin these may help to reduce the effect

  • don't sit directly below it
  • apply emollients regularly
  • go outside as much as possible, especially during lunch and breaks
  • drink lots of water
  • open windows instead

If you have any ideas or things that you do to limit the effect of air conditioning on your eczema, I would love to hear them.




Do you have a tip you would like to share? Let me know :)




5 Ways To.......get more Vitamin E for your skin


1. Food. Nuts, seeds, soya products, wheat germ and green vegetables are good vitamin E sources. You only need around 15mg a day, so if you eat a healthy diet you should get the recommended amount

2. Cream. Great to use direct on to the skin. Helps to keep the skin soft and protect it from pollutants and chemicals. Always check the ingredients in any cream or lotion you think about using to make that there are no ingredients in it that will irritate your skin, and may make your skin worse

3. Use some good oils. Sunflower, safflower, soya and peanut oils are good sources of vitamin E. You can cook with them, but if they are left uncooked they wont lose any of the vitamins they contain

4. Vitamin E oil. Helps to keep the skin moisturised and protects it from pollution and free radicals which damage skin cells. You can massage a few drops in to the skin. You can also add it to other oils, like olive oil, which is also beneficial to eczema

5. Supplements. If your intake from food is too low then taking a supplement may help. But eating a diet that provides enough is more effective and healthy than supplements.




Keeping Up-To-Date With What is Eczema


For the latest news about eczema, and any updates to What is Eczema you can subscribe to The Eczema Blog.

You can subscribe by going to www.what-is-eczema.com

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The June edition of Eczema Bulletin will include

  • June's Featured Article – Is Spirulina Beneficial to Eczema?
  • My favourite news item of the month
  • Tip of the Month
  • 5 Ways To.....allergy proof your office



Hope you enjoyed May's Eczema Bulletin, and thanks for reading

Teri


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